Do you wonder why some kids
do better in School than others,
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what's missing for our kids?
Well, stay tuned to meet the man
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known as America's
most trusted educator...
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My name is Yvonne Lewis and
you're watching Urban Report
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Hello and
welcome to Urban Report.
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My guest today is Dr.
Steve Perry, known as,
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America's most trusted educator,
he's a CNN Education Contributor
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host of "Save My
Son" Reality Show
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and Founder and Principal
of Capital Preparatory Magnet
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School in Hartford, Connecticut,
and he's an author...
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Welcome to Urban
Report Dr. Perry... yeah...
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Thank you so
much... Oh, it's so great
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to have you here...
I've been wanting to have you
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on the Program for so
long and I'm just so thankful
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that you're with us
today... I'm honored to be here
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and I'm glad to
have the opportunity
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to talk to your viewers
because in so many ways,
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the religious screening
has been vital to education
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and so, it's exciting to
be able to have a conversation
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with people for whom, too
long you've been squeezed out
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of the conversation on Education
Well, thank you... thank you...
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you know, I've
watched you on CNN
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I've watched you on
"Save my Son", "Save our Sons"
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and I am so impressed
with what you're doing...
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I want to know more about you
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I know our viewers
would love to know...
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what's your journey been like...
were you raised with money
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what's been
your... oh is it funny,
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okay, so I think we're
in for a good story here...
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No... no I was
not raised with money
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no... not unless you consider
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eating Government
cheese with money...
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eating reduced lunch with
money and living in the Projects
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until I was a Junior in College
no... no... I was born on
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my mother's 16th birthday, and,
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my mother...
like so many mothers
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who were raising
a son by herself...
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her husband, my
father, was for... some time
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abusive and their relationship
one way or another... crumbled
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and she set off to do the
best that she could to raise me
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and she sought the
support of educators and coaches
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who believed that
there was something in me
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that would, one day, make an
impact on other people's lives
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from as far back
as I can remember
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there had been people
who had been reaching down
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to pull me out of the
circumstances that I was in...
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to put me in
positions to be successful
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and, I am, now, among the people
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who are fighting very hard
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to make sure all children
get access to quality education
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no matter who they were
born to. And that's so important
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Dr. Steve because... I
hear you say a few things,
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first of all... your
mom, though she was young,
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really worked hard to make sure
that you had what you needed
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and she was
involved... and I think
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parental involvement is
so critical to the success
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of our children... so
that's another thing...
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What would you say
was the impact though
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of the absence of your
father? It was profound...
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there were a lot of
emotions that I dealt with...
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all the way through adulthood...
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trying to figure out how
to do the simplest things
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from learning how to shave,
to some of the more complicated
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things like
heartbreak or dreaming out loud,
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and trying to find a
way to be both a young man
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and to be a Black
man who... wasn't a punk
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but didn't want
to be a thug either
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so, not being in a position
where I had access to my father
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in a meaningful
way... I found myself...
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feeling my way through the dark.
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Wow, that sounds like a
great title for a book...
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"Feeling my way
through the dark," you know,
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that's one of the
things that we stress here
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on Dare to Dream... the
importance of the father
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in the success of the family
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and what we're
finding, of course, as you know
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the statistics show that
the success of the family
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is really, really hinged
upon a lot upon the father,
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more so than the
mother, even though, you know,
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the mothers have to step up
to the plate and do both jobs
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in many cases and
so, one of the things
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that I appreciate
about what you do...
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is you talk about the
impact of fatherlessness...
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and the man's role in the home,
and that's such a critical piece
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that I think
we're missing so often,
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would you tell us
some more about growing up
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as an adolescent...
where were you academically
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as an adolescent? I was
average... I was average
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at best... I was
fortunate because I was in an
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Upward Bound Program... Hmmm...
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those are programs
that work with students
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from historically
disadvantaged populations
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and they have them going
to school during the summer
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and doing after-school
support, I had an advisor
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in our Upward Bound Program
who would pick the courses
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for me that I was in so
I would have never taken
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Physics in High
School had she not made me...
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Hmmm... ... Algebra 2...
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I would have never
taken... or Statistics...
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I would not have
taken those courses
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because none of my
friends took them...
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so I was an
average student at best
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but a lot of my friends
got into a lot of trouble...
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and I didn't... it
wasn't that I was morally
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opposed to getting in trouble,
I just wasn't interested in it,
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I played sports
and it seemed to be...
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seemed to me to be more
interesting to do those things
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than to go off and do
some of the other tomfoolery
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that my friends were
deeply embedded in...
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I didn't want to sell drugs...
again, I would go to the
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store with my
friends who would steal stuff
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but I didn't steal... though
I would eat what they took
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Hmmm... hmmm... I
wouldn't sell drugs
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but if they went
to... they took us to...
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a restaurant...
like to fast food
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I would take the food
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that they purchased with that...
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and so, I was
there... I was there...
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I could not tell you that
I was anywhere... but there
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but, even after
awhile, I stopped doing that
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I just... it got old... I
didn't see myself in prison
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as the next step... I
felt like that was what
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folks were expecting of me...
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Yes... yes... ...
but I wanted to live
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a typical existence...
Yes... yes... so where was
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the turnaround... A
couple of turnarounds...
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I had a... from my
earliest entry in School
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I was kicked out in Pre-K for
fighting and doing bad things
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and then I stayed
back in the third grade and
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my fourth grade
teacher was the first person
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to pull me aside and say,
"You're going to be good. "
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and then... there were
multiple turning points...
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I don't know
that... any life well-lived
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has one turning point...
I hope I'm still turning...
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But, you were on one
path, and you ended up
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on a totally different path...
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Well, you know, I was on
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parallel paths... I think
that's the best way to say it...
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my friends wanted to be
great at what they were doing
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and I wanted to be great too...
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I just didn't want to
be a great drug dealer...
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they were not uncomfortable
with feeding into stereotypes
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and I was
extremely uncomfortable
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with feeding into stereotypes...
and so, I would say
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that I wanted to do things like
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be the Mayor of my hometown...
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because that seemed to me
to be the most revolutionary
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thing for a Black kid
from the Projects to say
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that he wanted to be
the Mayor, at that point,
00:07:54.28\00:07:56.03
the Mayor seemed to
be the highest office
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anyone could hold in
my little bitty life...
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and what I began to see was that
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my mother was on
the Tenants Association
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in our Project...
and I began to see
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that there were people
who constantly seemed like
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they were going to stop
her and the other tenants...
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residents of the Project
from getting what I felt...
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like they deserved... so,
I was blessed or given the
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opportunity to see...
what justice was about...
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and I knew that I had
been given an opportunity
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in part... because I was poor,
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the TRIO Programs or
the Upward Bound Programs
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were those programs
that were given to kids
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who were poor... so
they didn't really do
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anything amazing...
except for ending up being poor,
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I remember when we
first got called down...
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to the auditorium... I
remember that like it was
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yesterday... when
I was in 8th Grade...
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and they said...
they called all the names
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of my friends and I
and I thought... you know,
00:08:43.60\00:08:45.29
by the time we made it
down from our Classes...
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we were almost in a
fight with one another
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to figure out who told...
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and so when we all
assembled in the auditorium
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I just remember thinking...
"Man, we're in trouble... "
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and, by the time this
woman stood in front of us
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this Black woman
stood in front of us...
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I thought, "Well, who is
she... is she the police...
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like is she a
Detective or some Undercover?"
00:09:06.69\00:09:09.00
you know, because we had
just done so much stupidness
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and she said, "You all have the
capacity to go to College... "
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and we didn't even
know what she meant...
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I never met anyone who
was going to College...
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by the 8th
Grade... except for School,
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you know, except
for... the teachers,
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I didn't know
anybody in my personal life
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who had been to
College... just seemed like
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an absurd notion...
she may as well said,
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"You go to the moon. "
and so she created this
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opportunity that I
had never heard of...
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"Do the Upward Bound Program,
my name is Angela Banks Rankins"
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and it wasn't one day...
it wasn't one turning point
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it was multiple turning points
and multiple times when she and
00:09:41.23\00:09:43.91
the Director of the
Program, Peter Budget had to go
00:09:43.94\00:09:47.20
and really get us... and
really go after us for just
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being kids and
doing stupid things...
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so when I got the
opportunity to make an impact
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as an adult... I
did it in a place...
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that an impact was made on me
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which was in Education...
we started our own Upward Bound
00:10:00.17\00:10:02.17
Program which was called
ConnCAP... here in Hartford
00:10:02.21\00:10:04.78
and it was just the
most revolutionary thing
00:10:04.81\00:10:08.72
I could do... I felt like...
00:10:08.75\00:10:10.12
if you can give
access to education
00:10:10.16\00:10:12.16
to the worst kids in the region
00:10:12.20\00:10:14.16
then you're
really doing something...
00:10:14.20\00:10:15.83
and then that's how
the School was born...
00:10:15.86\00:10:18.10
and that's how we keep doing...
00:10:18.13\00:10:19.74
everything we're
doing... I just believe
00:10:19.78\00:10:21.37
that our kids are as beautiful,
00:10:21.41\00:10:23.30
and as brilliant as any others
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who have ever been born, I
believe God makes no mistakes
00:10:25.30\00:10:27.68
so every single
child is done on purpose
00:10:27.72\00:10:30.70
for a purpose...
Yes... absolutely...
00:10:30.73\00:10:33.03
I was going to ask you,
how did you end up in Education
00:10:33.06\00:10:36.37
so I appreciate
your letting us know that
00:10:36.40\00:10:38.26
because there are not a
lot of males in Education...
00:10:38.29\00:10:41.62
and I that feel that there
are not a lot of Black males
00:10:41.65\00:10:43.95
in the Educational
field... so, it's interesting
00:10:43.98\00:10:47.20
that you felt that...
that's how you could really make
00:10:47.23\00:10:50.61
a difference...
that's how our children
00:10:50.64\00:10:52.84
could be really impacted
00:10:52.88\00:10:54.89
the most profoundly...
I think, through Education
00:10:54.93\00:10:57.68
and that can
change your outlook...
00:10:57.72\00:11:00.03
education can
change your outlook...
00:11:00.06\00:11:02.31
so, are those some of the things
00:11:02.34\00:11:05.15
that kind of influenced
you to go into Education?
00:11:05.19\00:11:08.98
I don't... I'll say this...
and this is my understanding...
00:11:09.01\00:11:12.42
I believe that
Education is a calling...
00:11:12.46\00:11:14.19
Hmmm... I believe it's something
00:11:14.23\00:11:16.63
before they were
preachers... they were taught,
00:11:16.67\00:11:18.83
before they were
principals... they were taught,
00:11:18.86\00:11:22.39
and physicians and
detectives and mechanics...
00:11:22.42\00:11:25.92
everybody who is somebody
was taught by somebody...
00:11:25.96\00:11:30.44
and the date is really
clear that Education is the only
00:11:30.48\00:11:34.93
permanent escape
route out of poverty
00:11:34.97\00:11:37.49
and it's, in fact, the
surest road to happiness...
00:11:37.53\00:11:42.07
virtually
everything that we value...
00:11:42.11\00:11:45.18
has its roots in a
quality education...
00:11:45.21\00:11:48.24
even marriage itself...
00:11:48.28\00:11:49.32
the more education you
have, the higher the probability
00:11:49.36\00:11:53.29
of being happy...
in your marriage...
00:11:53.33\00:11:55.35
in your career... in
everything that you do...
00:11:55.39\00:11:57.74
healthier... actually
physically healthier...
00:11:57.77\00:12:00.40
so, I believe I was
called to do Education...
00:12:00.43\00:12:02.75
this is what I do...
00:12:02.78\00:12:03.92
I'm not terribly great at
a bunch of other things...
00:12:03.96\00:12:06.05
so, if this thing didn't work
out, I think I'd be in trouble.
00:12:06.09\00:12:09.33
Well, it's
obviously worked out because
00:12:09.36\00:12:12.63
at the School that
you are the Founder of...
00:12:12.66\00:12:15.74
Capital Prep Magnet School
00:12:15.77\00:12:18.24
100 percent... I read...
00:12:18.27\00:12:20.67
of your graduates have
gone on to College since 2006.
00:12:20.70\00:12:24.66
Absolutely... so,
what's your secret...
00:12:24.69\00:12:26.75
tell us your secret...
I have an amazing team...
00:12:26.79\00:12:29.50
I'm one of the
Founders of Capital Prep...
00:12:29.53\00:12:31.82
I'm just the one
that most people know...
00:12:31.85\00:12:34.11
and so, that team came
together... this ragtag group
00:12:34.15\00:12:40.13
of women and men...
decided that we were going
00:12:40.17\00:12:43.33
to leave these failed
schools that we were working in
00:12:43.36\00:12:46.07
and we were going to
create an academic experience
00:12:46.11\00:12:48.75
that had never been seen before,
we believed that if we brought
00:12:48.78\00:12:53.05
the best educators
that we could find...
00:12:53.09\00:12:55.72
into one place...
we could take children
00:12:55.76\00:12:58.44
who other people thought...
00:12:58.48\00:13:00.69
maybe... even if they
thought they were good
00:13:00.73\00:13:02.19
but they didn't
know... how good...
00:13:02.22\00:13:03.81
we felt like we
could get the best
00:13:03.85\00:13:05.36
out of every single
child that we had access to.
00:13:05.40\00:13:07.31
That is
tremendous... so, when you say,
00:13:07.35\00:13:11.12
"Create an academic experience
that's unparalleled... "
00:13:11.15\00:13:15.04
What do you mean? like how...
00:13:15.07\00:13:16.86
give us like a sample
of a student's day there...
00:13:16.90\00:13:22.23
What's
different? So, it starts...
00:13:22.27\00:13:23.84
their day starts in July...
we're a year-around school
00:13:23.88\00:13:27.29
Ah... So, Capital Prep students
00:13:27.33\00:13:30.08
go to School... 201
days... versus 187 or 183
00:13:30.12\00:13:33.27
like we do in
other School Districts,
00:13:33.30\00:13:34.72
our children's days
are typically longer...
00:13:34.76\00:13:36.81
the expectations are higher,
we have a two-score requirement
00:13:36.84\00:13:39.97
for children...
every child has an
00:13:40.00\00:13:42.53
academic advisor...
that advisor is the person
00:13:42.57\00:13:45.00
who checks in... at
home... every two weeks
00:13:45.04\00:13:47.44
the expectations are
that the child will meet
00:13:47.47\00:13:49.89
with their advisor
every single day...
00:13:49.93\00:13:51.32
we treat our children...
as if they are our children...
00:13:51.36\00:13:54.61
the kids at Capital Prep
don't get anything different
00:13:54.64\00:13:57.86
than my own sons... and
that's due in large part
00:13:57.90\00:14:00.87
because my own sons
attend Capital Prep...
00:14:00.91\00:14:03.29
I wouldn't serve the
children of our Community
00:14:03.32\00:14:05.45
anything that I wouldn't
serve my own children...
00:14:05.49\00:14:07.58
and that's the
case for most of us
00:14:07.62\00:14:09.34
who have... children...
most of my colleagues
00:14:09.38\00:14:11.77
who have children...
send their children...
00:14:11.80\00:14:14.16
to Capital
Prep... It sounds like
00:14:14.20\00:14:17.21
it's an amazing...
amazing... School...
00:14:17.25\00:14:20.72
How would you
explain the disparity...
00:14:20.76\00:14:23.69
the achievement
disparity between
00:14:23.73\00:14:26.59
Black students
and White students...
00:14:26.63\00:14:28.93
how would you explain that?
00:14:28.96\00:14:30.88
Most Black students go
to some of the worst schools
00:14:30.92\00:14:33.64
in America... so
that's the first reason why
00:14:33.67\00:14:36.52
it's just an "incidents thing"
so, if White kids were going
00:14:36.55\00:14:40.34
to those schools...
they would be doing worse
00:14:40.37\00:14:41.91
than other White
kids... so start there...
00:14:41.95\00:14:43.41
and then, both within the
schools that we are the majority
00:14:43.45\00:14:47.12
and in other schools
where we are the minority,
00:14:47.15\00:14:50.01
racism is still very
real... one of the reasons
00:14:50.05\00:14:52.84
why there is a Capital Prep
is not so much because I was
00:14:52.88\00:14:55.39
compelled by what I
was seeing in the Hood...
00:14:55.42\00:14:57.47
it was because of
what I saw in the suburb...
00:14:57.50\00:14:59.37
a nearby suburb...
Windsor, Connecticut...
00:14:59.40\00:15:01.24
where I was working in a
school there... the high school
00:15:01.27\00:15:04.85
and I would see kids
00:15:04.88\00:15:06.46
that we had
worked with all summer...
00:15:06.50\00:15:09.56
we have had them
since Algebra 1 class
00:15:09.59\00:15:12.45
and then... I would go see
the children at their school...
00:15:12.48\00:15:16.37
and at their school...
they'd be in Extended Algebra
00:15:16.40\00:15:19.80
and I didn't understand
why I didn't even know
00:15:19.84\00:15:21.44
what Extended Algebra was,
and so, it was a three-semester
00:15:21.47\00:15:24.70
Algebra Class as opposed
to two-semester Algebra Class
00:15:24.73\00:15:27.72
and what I found was, I
could walk through most of the
00:15:27.75\00:15:30.71
schools that were
"integrated" and find
00:15:30.74\00:15:33.88
that the darker the
child the lower they were
00:15:33.92\00:15:35.89
in the school's
assignment of classes...
00:15:35.92\00:15:38.85
and I didn't
think that was right...
00:15:38.88\00:15:41.73
so, I felt like, there was
nothing wrong with those kids
00:15:41.77\00:15:45.56
they're just in
the wrong setting...
00:15:45.59\00:15:46.81
the other part of this
is, we as a Community...
00:15:46.84\00:15:49.25
we the Black and Latino
Community need to have a
00:15:49.28\00:15:51.62
greater commitment to education
and what that means, to me,
00:15:51.65\00:15:55.93
is the same amount of
money we spend on sports
00:15:55.97\00:15:58.15
and entertainment...
should be spent on
00:15:58.18\00:16:00.08
academic experiences...
00:16:00.12\00:16:01.64
we need to push harder
00:16:01.68\00:16:03.13
politically... many parents are
committed to a quality education
00:16:03.16\00:16:06.43
they just don't
think they have any options
00:16:06.46\00:16:07.90
so if you live in
a poor community...
00:16:07.94\00:16:09.16
and you apply to a
Charter or Magnet School
00:16:09.19\00:16:13.47
and you don't get in...
you feel like... that's it...
00:16:13.51\00:16:15.26
"Oh, well... " and
that's not the case
00:16:15.29\00:16:17.39
you can and must fight
for greater school choice
00:16:17.42\00:16:20.50
and vouchers...
let's say that your church
00:16:20.54\00:16:22.52
has a school... you
should be fighting for
00:16:22.56\00:16:24.32
vouchers so that
your church school could
00:16:24.36\00:16:26.05
take the money that is being
spent on failed local schools
00:16:26.09\00:16:29.71
and spend it on
successful nearby schools...
00:16:29.75\00:16:32.78
even if that school is religious
00:16:32.81\00:16:33.88
we don't have a
problem with spending money on
00:16:33.91\00:16:35.82
religious schools
and their colleges...
00:16:35.85\00:16:36.94
Notre Dame, the last time I
checked, is run by a Father,
00:16:36.98\00:16:39.74
Clearly, we don't have
a problem with spending
00:16:39.78\00:16:43.71
money on schools like BYU...
or Georgetown or Boston College
00:16:43.75\00:16:49.44
all of which are
religious schools...
00:16:49.48\00:16:51.15
we have to have our families
00:16:51.19\00:16:54.92
especially minority families
fight hard for school choice
00:16:54.96\00:16:59.15
so it's both the personal...
00:16:59.18\00:17:01.38
that our parents
could do a lot better at...
00:17:01.42\00:17:04.13
and the political...
we have to go and fight
00:17:04.16\00:17:06.80
to make sure that our children
are not damned to failed schools
00:17:06.83\00:17:09.87
That is so important, and
again, parental involvement
00:17:09.90\00:17:14.31
is critical... so
often, parents are
00:17:14.35\00:17:18.43
overwhelmed by just life...
and they're not as involved
00:17:18.47\00:17:23.15
in their
children's academic life...
00:17:23.19\00:17:25.53
as they should be...
00:17:25.56\00:17:26.70
or maybe they feel
incompetent, you know,
00:17:26.73\00:17:29.21
unable to do that
00:17:29.25\00:17:31.03
or maybe they're embarrassed
by their own lack of education
00:17:31.06\00:17:33.88
but what you're saying is
that... regardless of that
00:17:33.91\00:17:37.92
get involved with your
children, with their academics
00:17:37.96\00:17:41.93
with their schools...
and make better choices...
00:17:41.97\00:17:44.63
academically...
read to your kids...
00:17:44.67\00:17:46.52
if you can't really read well,
you can take them to the library
00:17:46.55\00:17:49.61
where they have story
hour, but get them involved
00:17:49.64\00:17:52.86
in learning... and the
appreciation of learning
00:17:52.90\00:17:56.08
versus... all this money
00:17:56.12\00:17:58.33
that we spend... and we
tend spend on entertainment
00:17:58.36\00:18:00.70
I think... that is
so... so important...
00:18:00.74\00:18:03.32
that is so important...
00:18:03.35\00:18:04.92
What role do you see
spirituality as having
00:18:04.96\00:18:09.57
in the academic arena...
00:18:09.61\00:18:12.88
You know... I think
that there is something
00:18:12.91\00:18:15.41
to be said for a
child's understanding
00:18:15.45\00:18:17.91
of a bigger power...
00:18:17.95\00:18:19.27
one of these that we do in our
00:18:19.30\00:18:20.94
school... even though
we are a public school...
00:18:20.97\00:18:22.64
is we provide space for children
00:18:22.67\00:18:24.15
to express their
religious responsibilities...
00:18:24.18\00:18:27.03
Hmmm... So, we have
00:18:27.06\00:18:28.95
for our Muslim students
00:18:28.98\00:18:30.80
they are the ones
who use it the most...
00:18:30.84\00:18:32.83
we have a space...
where they go to pray...
00:18:32.87\00:18:34.66
one parent... who's Christian
00:18:34.69\00:18:37.94
who found that
to be reprehensible
00:18:37.97\00:18:39.68
asked if they could
give out Bibles in the School
00:18:39.71\00:18:42.73
and I said, "Well, they
are not giving out the Qur'an
00:18:42.76\00:18:45.01
but you could... if
you felt so compelled...
00:18:45.05\00:18:49.18
you could create an opportunity
where you created a Club
00:18:49.21\00:18:51.73
for your
group... here on campus...
00:18:51.76\00:18:54.45
and that would be
welcomed. " We understand that
00:18:54.49\00:18:57.30
when we educate the
whole child, we have to respect
00:18:57.34\00:19:01.03
what it is... that
makes that family... a family
00:19:01.07\00:19:04.72
and for many
families that is religion...
00:19:04.76\00:19:06.53
and so, we respect that...
00:19:06.57\00:19:09.06
That's great...
what about nutrition...
00:19:09.09\00:19:12.30
the importance of
nutrition so many children...
00:19:12.34\00:19:17.55
one in five
children... it says...
00:19:17.59\00:19:19.50
come to school...
hungry... what do you think
00:19:19.53\00:19:23.42
is the role of nutrition
in just academic achievement?
00:19:23.46\00:19:26.68
So, nutrition is important...
but... to be honest with you
00:19:26.71\00:19:29.90
it's often overplayed
00:19:29.93\00:19:31.42
as an impediment to a
child's performance...
00:19:31.45\00:19:33.93
Hmmm... the fact is...
00:19:33.97\00:19:35.19
if you have
children in your life,
00:19:35.23\00:19:36.72
you know they're
hungry all day...
00:19:36.76\00:19:38.22
They are hungry all day...
00:19:38.26\00:19:41.24
That's all they do is
eat... they graze... and so
00:19:41.28\00:19:46.10
especially if you have a boy...
00:19:46.14\00:19:47.46
you feel like...
you should just leave
00:19:47.50\00:19:49.18
your refrigerator door
open... why even close it...
00:19:49.22\00:19:52.59
so, at our
school... we have breakfast...
00:19:52.63\00:19:56.53
we have snack... we
have lunch... we have snack,
00:19:56.56\00:19:58.71
and in the not so distant future
00:19:58.75\00:20:00.75
we will also have
dinner, so we understand
00:20:00.78\00:20:03.14
that we have
that as an obligation
00:20:03.18\00:20:05.01
and then on the weekends
we have a backpack program...
00:20:05.05\00:20:07.98
where children receive
a full backpack of food
00:20:08.01\00:20:10.65
on Friday... and they
return it on Monday...
00:20:10.69\00:20:13.57
so we get it... but I
don't want to overstate
00:20:13.60\00:20:16.42
even as you
say... if the statistics
00:20:16.45\00:20:18.18
that you've just stated...
00:20:18.22\00:20:19.34
if we accept those as
true, there's still 80 percent
00:20:19.38\00:20:21.71
of children... not
coming to school...
00:20:21.75\00:20:23.02
Hmmm... hungry... which means...
00:20:23.05\00:20:25.05
that there are
other reasons why...
00:20:25.09\00:20:26.68
the children are not doing well
00:20:26.72\00:20:28.25
and the most important of those
is that they don't have enough
00:20:28.28\00:20:30.81
effective
teachers... in front of them...
00:20:30.85\00:20:32.49
Hmmm... so, then,
what you're saying is
00:20:32.53\00:20:36.81
the main impediment then
is not so much... nutrition
00:20:36.84\00:20:42.01
it's the teachers that
are not really... competent...
00:20:42.04\00:20:46.94
Is that what you're saying?
00:20:46.98\00:20:48.18
It is what I'm saying...
and their Administration.
00:20:48.22\00:20:52.55
So, how can that be remedied,
because you have so many
00:20:52.59\00:20:56.41
teachers that are
in the inner-city...
00:20:56.45\00:20:58.62
that just kind of
say, "You know what...
00:20:58.66\00:21:00.76
these kids are unteachable...
they don't want to learn
00:21:00.80\00:21:03.79
and I don't care
anymore... " they are burned-out
00:21:03.82\00:21:06.15
so what would you
suggest... how can we raise
00:21:06.18\00:21:08.96
the competency
level of the teachers
00:21:08.99\00:21:11.39
in the inner city...
There's a lot that we can do,
00:21:11.42\00:21:13.83
one of the first
things that we can do
00:21:13.87\00:21:15.05
is push back the
impact that Unions have...
00:21:15.09\00:21:16.73
on the operation of
schools... they are the ones
00:21:16.76\00:21:19.55
who are most responsible
for fighting to keep teachers in
00:21:19.58\00:21:22.07
even if those
teachers are ineffective...
00:21:22.11\00:21:24.13
so that's the first
thing that we can do...
00:21:24.17\00:21:26.03
the second thing that
we can do... is we can...
00:21:26.06\00:21:27.86
create more alternate
routes to certification programs
00:21:27.90\00:21:30.94
meaning that there
are people who want to be
00:21:30.97\00:21:32.86
mid-career exchangers...
who want to come and teach,
00:21:32.89\00:21:36.13
but they don't want to
go back and get a whole
00:21:36.16\00:21:37.81
other 4-year degree,
00:21:37.84\00:21:38.89
it makes no sense for a
person whose been working
00:21:38.93\00:21:40.80
in the theater for 20
years to have to go back and get
00:21:40.84\00:21:45.42
another Bachelor's in
Education, that's absurd...
00:21:45.45\00:21:48.17
when they want
to teach theater...
00:21:48.20\00:21:49.82
or somebody who
has been a physician...
00:21:49.86\00:21:51.84
we have a physician...
this is a true story...
00:21:51.87\00:21:53.56
there's a woman
who's a physician...
00:21:53.59\00:21:54.65
she's actually... a surgeon...
00:21:54.69\00:21:55.74
who wants to teach
Science here at Capital Prep...
00:21:55.87\00:21:58.23
but we cannot...
because we're a public school
00:21:58.26\00:22:00.59
she cannot teach
Science here at Capital Prep...
00:22:00.63\00:22:02.93
because she's not a
certified teacher...
00:22:02.96\00:22:04.66
though she was Chief Resident
when she was in Residency
00:22:04.69\00:22:09.38
and one of the top
surgeons in the area...
00:22:09.42\00:22:11.51
but we can't hire
her to teach Science...
00:22:11.54\00:22:13.64
so, we have to
change some of the laws
00:22:13.68\00:22:15.75
that make it
impossible for talented teachers
00:22:15.78\00:22:19.12
to come into the fold
and then we have to both
00:22:19.16\00:22:22.47
support the
teachers that we have
00:22:22.50\00:22:24.51
and get rid of
the ones who we have
00:22:24.54\00:22:26.51
who are not... very good...
00:22:26.55\00:22:27.70
Hmmm... that's an
important thing too
00:22:27.73\00:22:31.47
I think that one of
the things that you find
00:22:31.51\00:22:35.02
is that people...
get into the field
00:22:35.06\00:22:38.99
for different reasons
and as you said before...
00:22:39.03\00:22:42.32
it's a
calling... I do believe that
00:22:42.35\00:22:44.92
as well... it's a calling...
because you have to have...
00:22:44.96\00:22:47.36
It's trained to teach...
it's a misnomer that someone
00:22:47.39\00:22:52.45
can teach you how
to teach... Hmmm...
00:22:52.48\00:22:54.43
A person who's a
teacher is a teacher regardless
00:22:54.47\00:22:57.01
of what they do... you
have a preacher who is a
00:22:57.05\00:22:59.10
fantastic teacher...
then what you get is...
00:22:59.14\00:23:01.13
you get a person who wants
you to understand the Bible...
00:23:01.16\00:23:04.56
you have a person who
wants you to understand
00:23:04.60\00:23:06.68
what their purpose is...
if you have a great teacher
00:23:06.71\00:23:10.90
who is a person
who works at a Bank...
00:23:10.93\00:23:13.20
they want you to understand
the policies and principles
00:23:13.23\00:23:15.33
that you have to
impart in that place...
00:23:15.37\00:23:17.25
the same is true of a teacher...
00:23:17.29\00:23:18.99
a great teacher...
we all know who they are
00:23:19.02\00:23:21.70
you go into the
classroom and they are steadfast
00:23:21.74\00:23:24.07
they are just burning up to
make sure that you get it...
00:23:24.10\00:23:26.55
Yes... I believe
it's a gift as well...
00:23:26.59\00:23:30.00
and when you teach
across the board...
00:23:30.04\00:23:32.86
you know... like you said...
you're not necessarily a teacher
00:23:32.89\00:23:36.59
you're always teaching...
teachers are always teaching...
00:23:36.63\00:23:40.29
They don't have a
choice... Yeah, yeah, yeah...
00:23:40.33\00:23:43.35
A good teacher... is
like a great singer...
00:23:43.38\00:23:45.30
meaning that... a
person who can just sing...
00:23:45.33\00:23:48.34
you just go anywhere...
you see them at home...
00:23:48.38\00:23:51.06
when they're washing
the dishes singing...
00:23:51.09\00:23:52.32
and they're, you know,
taking a shower singing,
00:23:52.36\00:23:54.24
and singing in the car
even when there's no music
00:23:54.28\00:23:56.13
going on... it's
just what they do...
00:23:56.16\00:23:57.53
Yeah... It's
true of a teacher...
00:23:57.56\00:23:58.86
a teacher who's a real teacher
you can get them certain skills
00:23:58.90\00:24:01.27
to improve their craft...
but you can't make somebody
00:24:01.31\00:24:03.62
a teacher... there
are certain competencies
00:24:03.66\00:24:06.07
that people are
just born with...
00:24:06.11\00:24:07.31
and that's one of the things
that some people are born with,
00:24:07.35\00:24:09.19
it's a belief that you
00:24:09.22\00:24:11.14
as my student must
learn and it's my obligation
00:24:11.18\00:24:14.94
to do everything
that I can imagine
00:24:14.97\00:24:16.84
to make sure that you learn...
00:24:16.87\00:24:18.85
That's great... that's
great... so, what would you say
00:24:18.89\00:24:22.34
because our time
is wrapping up here...
00:24:22.37\00:24:24.31
the time went by so
fast... what would you say
00:24:24.34\00:24:28.34
to a parent of a
child that's underachieving
00:24:28.37\00:24:32.20
and the parent doesn't
really know what to do...
00:24:32.24\00:24:35.99
and they know that the child
has the potential to do better
00:24:36.03\00:24:40.62
but just isn't...
what would you say
00:24:40.65\00:24:42.50
to that parent...
what can he or she do?
00:24:42.53\00:24:44.85
There are a lot of
variables in there...
00:24:44.89\00:24:47.17
if it's a Middle
School boy... chances are...
00:24:47.21\00:24:49.16
they're coming into a place
where they're not necessarily...
00:24:49.19\00:24:51.35
you know... their
hormones are kicking in,
00:24:51.38\00:24:54.14
and they're
deciding to do things
00:24:54.17\00:24:55.58
a little differently...
so that could be a challenge
00:24:55.62\00:24:57.76
and so... you have
to work through that...
00:24:57.80\00:24:58.96
if it's a Middle School girl...
her hormones kick in too...
00:24:58.99\00:25:02.18
and she may be
caught up in social
00:25:02.22\00:25:03.74
life... more
than she should be...
00:25:03.77\00:25:05.53
some of the lower
school students...
00:25:05.57\00:25:07.29
some kids may have a trauma
00:25:07.32\00:25:09.00
that you may
need to deal with...
00:25:09.04\00:25:10.35
other kids may be
losing interest because
00:25:10.38\00:25:12.94
the school that they go to
00:25:12.97\00:25:14.00
or a specific
teacher that they have
00:25:14.04\00:25:15.72
there are a lot of
variables that you have to take
00:25:15.76\00:25:17.40
into consideration...
I think you have to look
00:25:17.44\00:25:19.05
through all of
them... and find out...
00:25:19.08\00:25:21.23
is it the school...
is it the teacher...
00:25:21.26\00:25:23.38
is it the student...
buy a... what they call...
00:25:23.42\00:25:25.72
a "Bio-Psycho-Social analysis"
you have to look at the
00:25:25.76\00:25:27.66
Biology of it...
meaning... what's going on
00:25:27.70\00:25:29.60
psychologically... is
he dealing with some issues
00:25:29.63\00:25:31.79
and then social... what's
going on in the environment...
00:25:31.83\00:25:34.24
So, if you suspect
00:25:34.27\00:25:36.82
that it's the school...
00:25:36.86\00:25:38.50
how can you
determine that the whole school
00:25:38.54\00:25:41.12
is underperforming...
Well, every State has a website
00:25:41.16\00:25:45.03
where you can go and find out
how your school is performing
00:25:45.07\00:25:47.59
and you can call your
school and ask them...
00:25:47.62\00:25:49.38
to tell you exactly
where that is and how
00:25:49.41\00:25:51.14
to use it... that's first...
00:25:51.17\00:25:52.47
and... it's not only if the
school is underperforming...
00:25:52.51\00:25:56.21
it may just be the
wrong school for your child...
00:25:56.24\00:25:58.33
let's say the child is
interested in arts and music...
00:25:58.37\00:26:00.29
and you're sending her to
a traditional high school...
00:26:00.32\00:26:02.20
she doesn't
feel like she fits in
00:26:02.24\00:26:04.51
well, she probably doesn't...
your child is interested in
00:26:04.54\00:26:07.81
vocational technical education
00:26:07.85\00:26:09.04
same thing may be the case...
your child is interested in
00:26:09.08\00:26:11.90
college preparatory
track... and that's not really
00:26:11.94\00:26:14.61
what that school focuses
on... there are many reasons
00:26:14.65\00:26:17.29
why a school
doesn't fit for the child...
00:26:17.32\00:26:19.09
the same reason why we choose
colleges and everything else
00:26:19.13\00:26:21.48
it's because we
want to make sure
00:26:21.52\00:26:23.02
that it's the best fit for us...
00:26:23.06\00:26:24.49
That's a great answer...
that's a great answer...
00:26:24.53\00:26:28.32
so, in closing... what
would you like to leave
00:26:28.36\00:26:32.09
with the viewer... what would
you like to leave with them?
00:26:32.12\00:26:35.40
That your child... is a
gift... and as a gift...
00:26:35.44\00:26:39.43
they are given gifts...
and it's your obligation
00:26:39.47\00:26:42.82
to create the best
environment for your child...
00:26:42.85\00:26:46.17
both in the home...
creating a safe, quiet place
00:26:46.20\00:26:50.22
for them to study and learn,
and then within the school
00:26:50.25\00:26:53.20
making sure you fight
to ensure personally...
00:26:53.23\00:26:55.48
meaning... working with
teachers and politically...
00:26:55.51\00:26:58.46
meaning working with the
boards of education and on out,
00:26:58.49\00:27:01.35
that your child goes to
the best school for them...
00:27:01.39\00:27:05.49
That is so good...
thank you so much, Dr. Steve,
00:27:05.53\00:27:09.56
for being with us today...
it means so much... to know...
00:27:09.60\00:27:14.30
that we have people
like you on the front lines
00:27:14.33\00:27:16.57
really fighting
for our children...
00:27:16.60\00:27:18.27
to make sure that they have
00:27:18.30\00:27:19.73
the best educational
experience possible...
00:27:19.76\00:27:22.19
We thank you for your work...
00:27:22.23\00:27:23.97
we thank you for
all that you're doing...
00:27:24.00\00:27:25.74
Thank you for what you're doing
00:27:25.78\00:27:27.17
thank you to all
your viewers... a lot...
00:27:27.20\00:27:29.70
Thank you... thank
you... Today you've heard
00:27:29.73\00:27:32.19
some strategies
for making a difference
00:27:32.22\00:27:34.45
in your children's
academic performance
00:27:34.48\00:27:36.69
I'm sure that
there are some tips here
00:27:36.72\00:27:38.70
that you can
immediately implement
00:27:38.73\00:27:40.84
or suggest to
someone that you love
00:27:40.88\00:27:42.91
that has children in school...
our children really, really,
00:27:42.95\00:27:46.83
need some help... so,
don't forget to add prayer
00:27:46.87\00:27:50.00
into the mix... God
makes all the difference...
00:27:50.04\00:27:53.18
God has that divine
plan for your children...
00:27:53.22\00:27:56.32
so make sure that you ask God
00:27:56.36\00:27:59.36
what is His plan...
00:27:59.39\00:28:00.70
Well, that's the end of
our Program for today...
00:28:00.73\00:28:03.69
thanks for tuning in...
00:28:03.72\00:28:04.87
it just wouldn't be
the same... without you...
00:28:04.91\00:28:07.06